Sierra Leone Follow-up #5: Men's Polio House

United Men’s Polio Brotherhood:

In the city of Freetown a group of men with polio have banned together to form a union. They have gained permission from the government to temporarily use an old slaughter house as a residence. As other men with polio began to hear about the “house” they started coming with their families so that now there are 90 people living together. In fact, all 90 sleep on the floor in one room. The floor has crumbled from use, and until now, a small type of worm has worked its way through the cracks at night and has caused sores on the people. Our team took supplies including 6 wheelchairs to be distributed. We were able to purchase some of their craft items to help with their income. We also had enough money left from the Hastings project that the floor is going to be chemically treated for immediate relief from the worms. When the Brotherhood gains long term use of the building (a meeting was scheduled for the week after our departure), we left the money with Mission Direct to have the floor resurfaced. There had been one toilet for all 90 people. Mission Direct has provided materials for the men to build a shower/restroom facility behind the slaughter house, as well as a ramp for the wheelchairs to enter the building. The needs there are tremendous. A next step will be to provide metal bunk frames and thin mattresses to get the people up off the floor. These folks are precious!